Channel tunnel traffic on the rise, despite French rail strikes
Channel tunnel operator Getlink (previously Eurotunnel) saw its net profits for the first half of the year increase by 15% to €39 million, despite SNCF French rail strikes that wiped €4.5 million from its pre-tax income.
The company said it is still on track to earn €545 million for the full year before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation.
In the first half of the year the number of cars using the tunnel rose 2% to 1.163 million, but the number of coaches was down 2% to 27,274.
Revenue from its shuttle services was up 5% to €296 million, which Getlink said was due to its dynamic pricing policy for both passenger and truck traffic.
The number of train passengers using the tunnel rose 3% to 5.198 million, which was boosted by the launch of direct services between London and Amsterdam in April.
Passenger volumes were a first-half record for Eurostar despite the SNCF strikes, while freight train volumes rose 12%, bringing in €147 million for Getlink in the first six months of the year.
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